Master wheel positioning device



March 1, 1932. H. A. FOOTHORAP.

MASTER WHEEL POSITIONING DEVICE FiledMay 14, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l 17277 7 14772 Foo/hqfqp March 1, 1932. FOQTHORAP 1,847,712

MAS TER WHEEL POSITIONING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1925 s Shets-Sheet 2 gwuentoz 1127771751. Foo/bars);

March 1, 1932. H, FQQTHQRAP 1,847,712

MASTER WHEEL POSITIONING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mom (1Q. QR

g WITNESS,

Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY a roo'rnonar, or HARRISBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA, assxenon "r aLLIo'r'r- FISHER COMPANY, or NEWYORK, N. Y., A coRronArIoN or DELAWARE MASTER WHEEL rosrrron'me DEVI-CE Application filed May 14,

h This invention relates to denominational selecting mechanism for writing computing machines. The object of the inventionis to provide in machines of this character a simple and effective form of mechanism whereby, when a zone of computation is reached, the denominational selection of the computing mechanism will be automatically effected in accordance with the denominational values of the digits being written or rinted. In the accompanying drawings, igure 1 is a rear elevationof a portion of an'Elliott- Fisher billing machine, equipped in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation. Figure 3 is a rear view of aportion of Figure -1 with certain of the parts occupying difi'erentpositions.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of in the primary selecting rack and its coupling device, and" Figure 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the carriage.

As the machine illustrated herein is a'wellz5'known form it will be sufiicient to direct attention to the fact that it comprehends, generally, a line space frame 1 which moves longitudinally ofa flat platen for line spacing and supporting a carriage 2, on which is mounted a key operating mechanism (not shown), which is advanced across the platen for letter spacing as words and numbers are printed on a work sheet spread out on the platen.

In addition to the usual adjunctivedevices of 'a typewriter, of what is known as the fiat platen type, thismachine is provided on the frame 1, in rear of the carriage 2,'with a register bar 3, on which is mounted one or more column registers 4. These registers embody computing mechanism, including denominational members or number wheels 5, occupying denominational positions corresponding to the denominational positions of a column or computing zone of the work sheet, to which the registers are appropriated.

' In addition to the number wheels 5, the registers include registering wheels, carrying mechanism, resetting mechanism, andnvarious other ancillary devices well known in the including a reversing gear 13, which is shiftcross-footer.

i925.- Serial No. 30,269.

as denominational selection isefi'ected in a given column of the work sheet, a correq n I n sponding denominationaliselection in the computing mechanism is effected. It follows that when a'di t is printed on the work sheet ina given denominational position, as, for instance, units, tens, hundreds, etc., the IllllllbBPWhGEl of corresponding denomination will be rotated to an extent correspending to the value of the printed digit.

In addition to these column registers 4, which are intended ordinarily to compute column totals, machines of this character are equipped also with what is known as a crossfooter or cross-footing register 8, usually located at the right hand end of the carriage and including a cross-footer actuator 9, denominat onal members 10, and the various anc llary. mechanisms necessary to effect a computation upon the operation of the mem bers or wheels 10, by a master wheel in a manner generallysimilar to the described operation of the column registers. The cross- 1 footer master wheel 9 is mounted on a squared shaft '11, driven from the shaft 7, through intermediate gearing 12 ofvreversible form,

able,'to what is known as the add or subtract positions in whichthe motion transmitted to the master wheel 9 will be in oppositedirections to effect addition or subtraction in the This selection of the character of the computation to be effected by the crossfooter is accomplished by a mechanism which includes agear shifting lever 14, connected to asmallbell crank lever 15, by a connecting rod 16. Normally, the parts are in position No claim is made in this application to the' add and subtract selection Just described. The present invention relates more partlcularly to means for controlling the selective movement of the cross-footer master wheel 9 across the register and back to normal position. The wheel 9 is provided with a grooved hub 19, engaged by a spanner 20, extending from the master wheel carriage 21, mounted to slide on guide rods 22, and having at its upper side a toothed rack 23. This rack engages a pinion 24, keyed to a shaft 25, and having a similar pinion 26 at its opposite end, and mounted in suitable bearings 27, carried by the frame of the cross-footer. Coiled upon the shaft is a retracting spring 28', secured to one end of the shaft at 29 (see Figure 2)., andat its opposite end. to a lug 30 on one of the fixed bearings (see Figure 1).

. Normally, the spring 28 is under tension to to a coupling rod 34.

hold the masterwheel carriage 21, and master wheel in retracted position. The pinion 26 is meshed with a driving gear 31, of compar atively large diameter, rotatable on the stud shaft 32 projecting from the wall of the crossfooter 8. At a point diametrically opposite the gearing26, the driving gear 21 meshes with the primary rack 32 of the cross-footer selecting mechanism, or master'wheel advanc ingmechanism, said rack being slidable in suitable bearings and connected at its lefthand end by means of a bracket or arm 33, The rod 34 is also slidably mounted, as, forinstance, in bearings 35 and the arm 33 extends through a slot 36 in the rear wall ofthe carriage to limit the end-wise movement of the coupling rod and consequently of the rack 32 and associated parts.

It may be noted, by referring to Figure 4, that the rack 32 and the arm 33 are adjustably-connected and are retained in their ad justed positions by a set screw 37. At its rear end the coupling rod 34 is provided with a couplinghook or latch 38, adapted to engage a; coupling lug or projection 39, extended downwardly from the base plate 40 of a column register. Usually these base plates are detachable from the registers and may be: used independently thereof, since it may not be de sired to obtain column totals of numbers printed in a given column or zone, and intended to be included in the computation effected by the crossfooter, otherwise expressed as the crossfooting register; The selecting mechanism may therefore be employed either in conjunction with or independently of one or more column registers, the only operative requiremcnt of the coupling lugs 39 being that they be located in fixed positions relative to which the carriage and cross-footer move. The coupling hook is pivoted to the rod 34, as shown in Figure 4, and is yieldingly held by a spring 41, which, however, upon the retraction of the carriage allows the hook to yield as itis ca-mmed under any coupling lug 39 which may. obstruct its retractile movement. This camming of the hook under the lug is facilitatedby forming these two members with similar cam faces 42 and 43. Normally, the rack 32is held in its extreme forward position on'the carriage and the master wheel in its completely retracted position by the spring 28, but when, in the advance of the carriage to a column position predetermined by the location of the coupling lug 39 along the register bar 3, the coupling hook 38 engages the lug, the advance of the coupling rod 34 and rack 32 with the carriage will thus be arrested and any succeeding movement of the carriage will cause its advance relative to the now fixed rack 32. This advance of the carriage will cause the gear 31, advancing therewith, to rotate by reason of its engagement with the rack and it will in turn rotate the pinion 26, the shaft25, and the pinion 24 to advance the rack 23, the master wheel carriage 21 and the cross-footer master wheel 9. This advance will be sufficient to present the master wheel 9 to successive denominational members of the cross-footer as the printing point of the machine moves to successive de nominational positions of the column. To effect the uncoupling of the master wheel advancing mechanism from the fixed lug, a tripper 44 is mounted on the carriage in such position that as the computing zone is passed the tripperwill be brought into contact with the cam face 43 of the coupling hook, and will cam the latter downward, whereupon its release will permit the instant retraction by the spring 38 of the master wheel and the master wheel advancing mechanism.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention will be clearly comprehended, butthe right is expressly reserved to effect such changes andmodifications thereof as may come fairly within the scope of'the protection prayed.

Vhat I claim is:

The combination with a travelling register, and a relatively shift-able master wheel, ofa master wheel carriage embodying a can riage shifting rack adjacent the front of the register, a sliding rack on the register in the rear of and below the first rack, normally travelling with register and adapted to be arrested and released. during travel of the latter,.meansoperative upon arrest of the sec- 0nd rack to advance the first rack. and carriage and including, a gear meshing with the second rack, a shaft spanning said gear and first rack, gears on said shaft meshing with the first gear and rack, respectively and of smaller diameter than said first gear, and'a reactive motor adapted to be restored by such operation of said means to reverse the operation thereof and retract the carriage and racks to initial position and connected to said shaft for operation through the smaller gears thereby providing for the use of alight retracting motor to reduce resistance to the advancing operation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY A. FOOTHORAP. 

